News items that look towards Ezekiel 38 & 39

[HisDaughter]

Confirmed: Jerusalem is on negotiating table
After months of denials, Israel admits 'mechanism' for 'dealing with holy city'

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: August 31, 2008
1:35 pm Eastern

© 2008 WorldNetDaily


JERUSALEM – After months of denials the status of Jerusalem is on the table during negotiations, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office today confirmed to WND that a mechanism has been created to deal with the issue of the holy city in U.S.-backed Israeli-Palestinian talks aimed at creating a Palestinian state by the end of the year.
 
"Of all the final status core issues, the issue of Jerusalem is probably the most difficult and unlike some of the other issues, we have yet to start negotiating the future of Jerusalem. Therefore in order to not let the process fall victim to its weakest link, we have the establishment of an agreed upon mechanism that would continue to deal with Jerusalem. That mechanism was created in such a way that it would address the concern of both sides," Mark Regev, Olmert's spokesman, told WND.
 
Regev would not detail which mechanism had purportedly been created to discuss Jerusalem.

According to senior Israeli and Palestinian diplomatic sources, both sides are already negotiating Jerusalem, with Palestinian officials claiming the talks are in advance stages.
 
Regev commented amid news media reports here today stating Olmert presented Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas with a plan for international parties to contribute proposals on how both sides should negotiate the status of Jerusalem. Olmert and Abbas met for a round of advanced talks today.
 
According to Olmert's proposal, a five-year timetable will be set out for completing a settlement on Jerusalem.
 
Regev would neither confirm nor deny the reports, which state Olmert's plan is for Jerusalem talks to be held under an international umbrella, where governments and other interested parties, including the Vatican, will be able to contribute their views.
 
Israel's Haaretz newspaper reported the proposed Jerusalem negotiations will be held directly between Israel and the Palestinians, and international parties will provide suggestions but would not be able to impose their views on a solution. 
 
Haaretz reported Olmert was planning to include in the negotiations members of the Mideast Quartet – the U.N., U.S., EU and Russia – as well as Jordan, Egypt, the Vatican and possibly the king of Morocco.
According to Palestinian sources directly involved in the negotiations, the reference to "international proposals" is specific to a U.S. plan – first reported last week by WND – that has been floated amongst the parties to deal with dividing Jerusalem in five years.
 
According to informed Israeli and Palestinian sources, officials from the State Department this year presented both negotiating sides with several proposals for consideration regarding the future status of Jerusalem. It was unclear whether the U.S. proposals were accepted.

One U.S. plan for Jerusalem obtained by WND was divided into timed phases, and among other things called for Israel eventually to consider forfeiting parts of the Temple Mount, Judaism's holiest site.

According to the first stage of the U.S. proposal, Israel would initially give the PA some municipal and security sovereignty over key Arab neighborhoods in eastern Jerusalem. The PA would be allowed to open some official institutions in Jerusalem, could elect a mayor for the Palestinian side of the city and would deploy some kind of so-called basic security force to maintain law and order. The specifics of the force were not detailed in the plan.

The initial stage also calls for the PA to operate Jerusalem municipal institutions, such as offices to oversee trash collection and maintenance of roads.

After five years, if both sides keep specific commitments called for in a larger principal agreement, according to the U.S. plan the PA would be given full sovereignty over agreed upon eastern Jerusalem neighborhoods and discussions would be held regarding an arrangement for the Temple Mount. The plan doesn't specify which parts of the Temple Mount could be forfeited to the Palestinians or whether an international force may be involved.

The PA also could deploy official security forces in Jerusalem separate from a non-defined basic force after the five year period and could also open major governmental institutions, such as a president's office, and offices for the finance and foreign ministries.

The U.S. plan leaves Israel and the PA to negotiate which Jerusalem neighborhoods would become Palestinian.

Standing alongside Abbas at a press conference, Olmert today announced in English that "We have to complete the Annapolis process this year – this year."

The Israeli leader was referring to talks started at last November's U.S.-backed Annapolis conference, which seeks to create a Palestinian state – at least on paper – before President Bush leaves office in January.

According to top diplomatic sources, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who visited the region last week, pressed Israel to sign a document by the end of the year that would include Jerusalem by offering the Palestinians a state in Israel's capital city as well as in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The Israeli team would rather conclude an agreement on paper by the end of the year that would give the Palestinians a state in the West Bank, Gaza and some Israeli territory, leaving conclusions on Jerusalem for a later date, the informed diplomatic sources told WND.

The sources said the Palestinian team has been pushing to conclude a deal by January on all core issues, including Jerusalem, and has been petitioning the U.S. to pressure Israel into signing an agreement on paper that offers the Palestinians eastern Jerusalem.

Rice, the sources said, has asked Israeli leaders to bend to what the U.S. refers to as a "compromise position," concluding an Israeli-Palestinian agreement by the end of the year that guarantees sections of Jerusalem to the Palestinians. But Israel would not be required to withdraw from Jerusalem for a period of one to five years.

[Barbara]

It is amazing, grammyluv!!

I guess they're not believing the Word of God. We know what this leads to:

Zechariah 12:3 -

"And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: ALL that burden themselves with it shall be CUT TO PIECES,..."

It's not a very wise idea to part God's land - they have eyes but they do not see!

[Barbara]

Connecting the Dots - Russian spring toward Black Sea and Mediterranean has underpinnings of ancient Ezekiel Prophecy

by Bill Wilson, KIN Senior Analyst

At the very least, Russia and Islam appear to be moving quickly toward a type-and-shadow of a 2,500 year old prophecy found in the Bible. Ezekiel 38:4-9 (NJKV) speaks about Gog, modern day Russia where the LORD says he will "put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you forth and all thine army ... Persia, Ethiopia and Libya with them ... in the latter years you shall come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel ... you shall ascend and come like a storm, you shall be like a cloud to cover the land, you and all your band, and many people with you."


Russian actions of recent weeks would indicate a positioning of the Russian forces and allies around Israel that could be paving the way for a massive end-time attack on Israel, or, at the very least, a military vice with Israel immobilized and the United States held at bay as Islam advances at will.

First, there was the recent meeting between Russian leaders and Syrian President Bashar Assad discussing a military protection agreement with Russia and the possiblity of deploying Russian nuclear missiles on Syrian ground. At the same time, Russia was moving to retake strategic ports in the Black Sea from the former Soviet state of Georgia.

Now Russia is fixed on the other former Soviet states of Moldova and Ukraine - both with strategic ports in the Black Sea. The Black Sea is a crucial buffer between Russia and the Middle East. Controlling the Black Sea would give Russia unabated access to stock Iran and Syria with weapons and to have control over oil shipping lanes and pipelines entering Europe from the Middle East.

There are reports that Russia has large dredgers working the Syrian port of Tartus in order to accomodate additional Russian ships to be deployed to the Mediterranean Sea. Meantime, Egypt and Saudi Arabia are developing a new security protocol for Gaza that is sure to bring more weapons closer to Israel.

Strategically, Russia's moves in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean tax NATO and U.S. forces that are already spread thin on the Islamic fronts in Afghanistan and Iraq. This occurs at the same time Iran's Russian and Chinese sponsered nuclear and missile development program is accelerating.

It is possible that Israel will be surrounded by the most firepower in it's history, and the U.S. may not have the ability or the will to protect Israel. With Israeli and American forces stalemated, Russian and Islamic interests could well advance with impunity. This Ezekiel prophecy, which may be unfolding before our eyes and will result in a great defeat for Russia, has a purpose.

The LORD says in Ezekiel 38:23, "I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I AM the LORD."

[nChrist]

Brothers and Sisters,

Things are moving fast now, and only GOD knows what will happen tomorrow, BUT WE HAVE HIS PROMISES AS CHRISTIANS!

We must know that GOD will NOT be denied for long. We are actually witnessing worse than just denial, rather attempted humiliation and mockery of GOD. THE GREAT AND ALMIGHTY "I AM" has been very patient with evil men, but it appears that patience is about to end. Evil will be brought finally to the realization that HE IS GOD AND WON'T BE DENIED, but it will be too late for them.

Brothers and Sisters, I have no idea how much Christians will witness before JESUS CHRIST comes and RAPTURES HIS CHURCH. This world is going to be an UGLY AND EVIL place, and we've only seen just the beginning - just a glimpse. How much will we see first? ONLY GOD KNOWS! There are events in the HOLY BIBLE that should give us an idea about how GOD deals with those HE considers HIS. On a small scale, we have the example of Lot. On a large scale, we have the example of Noah. GOD has already told us that THE CHURCH WHICH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST was NOT formed for HIS WRATH, rather for HIS RESCUE! HIS Promises to us are so bold and blunt that we can consider ourselves to be ALREADY RESCUED AND DELIVERED FROM THE WRATH TO COME! The BODY OF CHRIST is already accepted in the BELOVED, and each member already has the INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD. We were QUICKENED (TRANSLATED) into the BODY OF CHRIST at the moment of SALVATION. No power in the Universe can separate us from the Love of GOD or the PROMISES OF GOD!

We are already seeing some horrible things, but the Tribulation Period IS NOT here yet. It will be horror beyond human imagination, and we haven't even seen the beginning yet. The Tribulation Period is 7 years long, and that just happens to be the time period for a peace treaty with Israel. It will be a false peace that doesn't last long. The last half of the Tribulation period is called "THE GREAT TRIBULATION" OR THE "TIME OF JACOB'S TROUBLE". If any time period in history could be worse, this one will be worse than the first half of the Tribulation Period. ONLY CHRIST will be able to stop the evil and restore peace. In fact, JESUS CHRIST will establish a PEACE like the world has never known, and HE will rule and reign over the earth.

Isaiah 2:1-5 NASB
The word which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. Now it will come about that In the last days The mountain of the house of the LORD Will be established as the chief of the mountains, And will be raised above the hills; And all the nations will stream to it. And many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; That He may teach us concerning His ways And that we may walk in His paths." For the law will go forth from Zion And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And He will judge between the nations, And will render decisions for many peoples; And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they learn war. Come, house of Jacob, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.

Isaiah 9:2-7 NASB
The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them. You shall multiply the nation, You shall increase their gladness; They will be glad in Your presence As with the gladness of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For You shall break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders, The rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian. For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult, And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire. For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.

[Shammu]

Russian, Syrian naval commanders discuss cooperation

Published:    09.12.08, 13:17 / Israel News

Admiral Vladimir Vissotski, commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy, met in Russia with Syrian General Taleb al-Barri and to discuss cooperation between the Syrian and Russian navies, Russian news agency Interfax reported.

According to reports, the two men discussed various topics in an attempt to advance cooperation between the two countries in this realm.

Russian, Syrian naval commanders discuss cooperation

[Shammu]

Palin backs Israeli right to strike Iran
Sep. 12, 2008
JPost.com Staff , THE JERUSALEM POST

The US must ensure that Teheran does not obtain weapons of mass destruction and should not second guess an Israeli decision to carry out a strike against Iran's nuclear facilities, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, John McCain's running mate in the US presidential race, said Thursday night in an interview with ABC News that focused almost exclusively on foreign policy issues.

"I believe that under the leadership of [President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad, nuclear weapons in the hands of his government are extremely dangerous to everyone on this globe," Palin asserted. "We have got to make sure these weapons of mass destruction; that nuclear weapons are not given to the hands of Ahmadinejad, not that he would use them, but that he would allow terrorists to be able to use them. So we have got to put the pressure on Iran."

When asked how the US should respond in the event of an Israeli attack on Iran, Palin said, "Well, first, we are friends of Israel, and I don't think that we should second guess the measures that Israel has to take to defend themselves, and for their security."

The interviewer went on to repeat the question in various forms, but Palin reiterated that "I don't think we can second guess what Israel has to do to secure its nation."

The Alaska governor was then asked to divulge her opinion regarding the roots of Islamic terrorism, which had led, seven years earlier, to the attack on the World Trade Center in New York.

"You know, there is a very small percentage of Islamic believers who are extreme, and they are violent, and they do not believe in American ideals. And they attacked us. And now we are at a point, here, seven years later, on the anniversary, in this post- 9/11 world, where we are able to commit to never again," she replied.

"The only option for them is to become a suicide bomber, to get caught up in this evil, in this terror. They need to be provided the hope that all Americans have, instilled in us, because we're democratic and we are a free, we're a free-thinking society."

During the interview Palin also reiterated opinions voiced by McCain regarding the Russian invasion of Georgia, saying that Tbilisi, as well as the Ukraine, should be allowed to join NATO's ranks. Asked whether such a move could precipitate a military conflict between US and Russian forces should Russia invade Georgia once more, Palin replied, "Perhaps so. That is the agreement. When you are a NATO ally, if another country is attacked, you are going to be expected to be called upon and help."

Palin backs Israeli right to strike Iran

[Shammu]

WHAT A GAL!! A voice of clarity in a sea of double speak. The harder the media tries to undermine her, the better she looks. Darkness will not outshine Light.

But now they'll try to paint her as dangerous in foreign affairs, because the media elite always assume that talking talking talking is better than actually getting anything done.

But don't y'all find it odd.........

The one candidate that has only about 2 week's exposure to one particular subject. Foreign Policy, and that is the one area the interview focused.

Its almost like the MSM is focusing on her weakness, but she keeps rising above it.

[Soldier4Christ]

The one candidate that has only about 2 week's exposure to one particular subject. Foreign Policy, and that is the one area the interview focused.

This is incorrect to begin with. Sarah Palin has had much more than 2 weeks foreign policy experience.

As Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin is the Commander in Chief of the Alaska National and Air Guard that combined is a force larger than many third world armies.

Alaska is compelled to take daily defensive postures against Russian TU-95 Bear flights and other frequent incursions.

Governor Palin also is at constant odds with Russia over fishing rights and other aspects of running a state 1/3 the size of the continental United States right next to an aggressive competitive nation with precious little moral boundaries.

She has also been actively involved in negotiations with Canada over commercial transportation rights through Alaska.

Alaska is the first line of defense in our missile interceptor defense system. The 49th Missile Defense Battalion of the Alaska National Guard is the unit that protects the entire nation from ballistic missile attacks. It's on permanent active duty, unlike other Guard units.

As governor of Alaska, Palin is briefed on highly classified military issues, homeland security, and counterterrorism. Her exposure to classified material may rival even Biden's.

She's also the commander in chief of the Alaska State Defense Force (ASDF), a federally recognized militia incorporated into Homeland Security's counterterrorism plans.

Palin is privy to military and intelligence secrets that are vital to the entire country's defense. Given Alaska's proximity to Russia, she may have security clearances we don't even know about.

According to the Washington Post, she first met with McCain in February, but nobody ever found out. This is a woman used to keeping secrets.

She can be entrusted with our national security, because she already is.

You can read more about the Alaska National Guard and its role in our Missile Defense System in the following links:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=2483

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=47177

Even though that may not be a lot of experience it is a whole lot more than Obama has had and more than likely rivals if not exceeds even that of Biden.

I also am reasonably sure that she has been watching the situation in the Middle East a whole lot closer than either Obama or Biden as she realizes the effect it would have on Alaska.

[HisDaughter]

I also am reasonably sure that she has been watching the situation in the Middle East a whole lot closer than either Obama or Biden as she realizes the effect it would have on Alaska.

And her son.

[Soldier4Christ]

And her son.

That is oh so true.

[Shammu]

Iran expects Russia to complete Bushehr power plant on schedule
Tehran, Oct 18, IRNA

Iran-Nuclear-Bushehr
Iran expected Russia to honor its commitments to complete Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran based on the previously agreed timetable, IAEO deputy chief said on Saturday.

According to the timetable, Iran's first nuclear power plant is to be operational in Autumn 2008.

Russia is scheduled to deliver the remaining one thousand ton of equipment within four months.

The 1000-MW power plant is being built in cooperation with Russia based on a contract signed in 1995.

It was scheduled to be completed in 2000, but was delayed over the past eight years for various reasons.

Construction of the power plant has, so far, had 94.8 percent physical progress, Deputy head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Ahmad Fayyaz-Bakhsh, who had recently inspected Bushehr power plant in southern Iran has told IRNA.

"If Moscow fulfilled its duties based on the previously agreed timetable and if there would be no technical problems, then Bushehr nuclear power plant would be inaugurated by the end of the current Iranian year (March 20, 2008) and would be later completely operational in the coming year," Fayyaz-Bakhsh added.

On October 7, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that Bushehr Power plant is scheduled to become operational in the first half of 2009.

Mottaki made the statement in Majlis in response to the questions raised by a number of MPs about the repeated delays in commissioning of the power plant by Russia.

In September, the minister had said that fuel supply accord for Bushehr plant would be finalized by the year end and then it "God willing, it will start generating electricity in the new Christian year."

Iran expects Russia to complete Bushehr power plant on schedule 

[Shammu]

Iranian general: Israel has an army of glass

Former Iranian defense minister says Jewish state cannot strike in his country on its own, warns Islamic republic 'will hit Israel harder than Hizbullah did'

Dudi Cohen
Published:    10.19.08, 16:33 / Israel News

Former Iranian Defense Minister General Ali Samahani said Sunday that his country had never launched a war and has no plans to do so. In the same breath, he noted that Iran had the ability to respond to Israel's army, which is "made out of glass".

"We know Israel will be very vulnerable in light of Iran's reactions," he declared.

Samahani, who serves as head of the Islamic Republic's center for defensive strategic studies and is a member of several organizations affiliated with the Tehran government, made the remarks in an interview with the Fars news agency.

"Israel has built a military country, and if the honor and strategy of the army is destroyed, as in the Second Lebanon War, nothing is left," he said.

The former minister warned that "Iran will hit Israel harder than Hizbullah did."

Addressing the Jewish state's threats to attack Iran's nuclear facilities, he said that experience shows Israel struck nuclear facilities twice in the past – in Iraq and in Syria. "Only after the target was hit, the facilities' purpose was revealed," Samahani stressed.

He added that there is a state of ambiguity in Israel regarding to its ability to strike, as well as in regards to the possibility to meet the goal and to the ramifications of a strike in Iran.

"Israel cannot do it on its own," he said, "even if it does receive American and regional backing. Experience shows they attack first and talk later. They don’t talk and then attack.

"Therefore, since they have spoken, they probably have a different goal. Although we are not ruling out any possibility, they talks have no effect," the general concluded.

Iranian general: Israel has an army of glass

[Shammu]

Russia Not Backing Down From Missile Plans In Syria
By David Bedein, Middle East Correspondent
10/20/2008

Jerusalem - Contrary assurances received during Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's recent visit to Moscow, Russia has not backed away from its plans to station S-300 anti-aircraft missiles on Syrian soil.

These anti-aircraft missiles could pose a significant obstacle to potential future Israeli Air Force activity in Syrian airspace.

Western intelligence sources note the Syrians requested the stationing of the Russian missiles on its territory during talks held in Moscow between the Russian Defense Ministry and high-ranking Syrian officials.

The Russians would operate the missiles, and they intend to station the missiles on Syrian soil as part of the defense alliance to protect Russia's strategic assets in Syria.

Syria's two naval bases, in Tartus and Latakia, are of prime strategic importance to Russia. They are being converted in order to host the Russian Black Sea Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea, which is comprised of approximately 50 warships and 80 warplanes.

The Washington Post reported in September that construction on the two Syrian naval bases has been accelerated. In Tartus, Russian teams are engaged in expanding the existing port and deepening it; the Russians are building floating piers in Latakia that will serve the Russian vessels that will be docked there.

The acceleration of the work on the Syrian ports stems from the Russian concerns that closer ties between Ukraine and the West should endanger the Russian Black Sea Fleet's main port in Sevastopol, Ukraine. The current agreement between Russia and Ukraine expires in 2017. The pro-Western Ukrainian President Viktor Lukashenko has demanded that Russia end the contract earlier and has pressured the Russians by raising the rent.

It should be noted that the relocation of the Russian Black Sea Fleet to Syria and a Russian military presence on Syrian soil will necessarily have an impact on Israel's ability to operate near he Syria.

Russia Not Backing Down From Missile Plans In Syria

[Shammu]

Russia, Iran and Qatar discuss forming gas cartel
By NASSER KARIMI, Associated Press Writer Nasser Karimi, Associated Press Writer
Oct 21, 7:22 pm ET

TEHRAN, Iran – Russia, Iran and Qatar made the first serious moves Tuesday toward forming an OPEC-style cartel on natural gas, raising concerns that Moscow could boost its influence over energy markets spanning from Europe to South Asia.

Such an alliance would have little direct impact on the United States, which imports virtually no natural gas from Russia or the other nations.

But Washington and Western allies worry that closer strategic ties between Russia and Iran could hinder efforts to isolate Tehran over its nuclear ambitions. In addition, the United States opposes a proposed Iranian gas pipeline to Pakistan and India, key allies.

In Europe — which counts on Russia for nearly half of its natural gas imports — any cartel controlled by Moscow poses a threat to supply and pricing.

Russia, which most recently came into confrontation with the West over its five-day war with Georgia in August, has been accused of using its hold on energy supplies to bully its neighbors, particularly Ukraine.

Moscow cut natural gas exports to the former Soviet republic over a price dispute during the dead of winter in 2006 — a cutoff that caused disruptions to European nations further down the pipeline.

The 27-nation European Union expressed strong opposition to any natural gas cartel Tuesday, with an EU spokesman, Ferran Tarradellas Espuny, saying: "The European Commission feels that energy supplies have to be sold in a free market."

Together Russia, Qatar and Iran account for nearly a third of world natural gas exports — the vast majority supplied by Russia — according to U.S. government statistics. The three hold some 60 percent of world gas reserves, according to Russia's state-controlled energy company Gazprom.

The United States — the world's largest consumer of oil and gas — produces most of its natural gas needs at home, importing only from Canada and Mexico.

Russia is also a major oil producer, though not an OPEC member. For its part, Iran, in its standoff with world powers over its nuclear program, has threatened to choke off oil shipments through the Persian Gulf if it is attacked.

A gas cartel could extend both countries' reach in energy and politics, particularly if oil prices bounce back to the highs seen earlier this year, prompting renewed interest in cleaner-burning natural gas and other alternative fuels.

Tuesday's gathering in Tehran appeared to be the most significant step toward the formation of such a group since Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, first raised the idea in January 2007.

"Big decisions were made," said Iranian Oil Minister Gholam Hossein Nozari. His Qatari counterpart, Abdulla Bin Hamad al-Attiya, said at least two more meetings were needed to finalize an accord, according to the Iranian Oil Ministry's Web site. No timeframe was given.

Calling the grouping the "big gas troika," the chief executive of Russia's state-controlled energy company Gazprom, Alexei Miller, said it would meet three or four times a year.

"We are consolidating the largest gas reserves in the world, the general strategic interests and — what is very important — the high potential for cooperation on three-party projects," Miller said.

Already, Russia has built Iran's first nuclear reactor, which Iranian officials say could begin operating later this year. The West fears Iran's nuclear program could lead to development of atomic weapons; Iran insists it is only for peaceful energy production.

Experts say a natural gas cartel would not have the same influence on prices as OPEC has on oil since natural gas is not subject to the same severe fluctuations.

"There's always some worry when these guys get together that they'll try to replicate OPEC, but they know that's not doable," said Robert Ebel, senior adviser to the Energy and National Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. "They can try to get more control over gas, but it's not OPEC."

That's because gas, unlike oil, is traded on much longer-term contracts, of as much as 25 years.

"Gas is a regional commodity and oil is an international commodity," Ebel said. "If you want to buy a tanker of crude, you can buy one at today's prices. When you want to build a natural gas pipeline, you have to have two things: enough gas to justify building a pipeline that will operate for 25 years, and ... customers that will agree to buy that gas at a range of prices for 25 years."

Still, a natural gas cartel could wield some influence on world prices, particularly in Europe and Asia, said James Cordier, president of Tampa, Fla.-based trading firms Liberty Trading Group and OptionSellers.com.

"To try to maneuver the supply ... makes perfect sense," he said. "Just because it doesn't have the clout of oil, it's still in their best interest to deliver natural gas where it needs to go and manage supply in order to help manage the price."

Liquefied natural gas — a rapidly growing segment of the market — could be traded as a commodity similar to oil at some point in the future, and the move by Russia, Iran and Qatar appears to anticipate that, said Konstantin Batunin, an analyst with Moscow's Alfa Bank.

Gazprom, the Russian state energy company, is looking to make the U.S. one of its prime markets for liquefied natural gas, and sent senior executives to Alaska last week to discuss energy projects.

Russia, Iran and Qatar discuss forming gas cartel

[Shammu]

Egypt drafts Palestinian unity paper
By Nidal al-Mughrabi Nidal Al-mughrabi Mon Oct 20, 4:35 pm ET

GAZA (Reuters) – Egypt on Monday called on rival Palestinian factions to form a unity government and restructure their security forces in a bid to end hostilities that have undermined efforts to reach a statehood deal.

Cairo presented a four-page proposal, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters, to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction and Islamist Hamas, outlining steps the groups should take to end their power struggle.

Egypt also said Abbas should continue peace talks with Israel but that any deal needs approval from a national referendum or the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), which it said should be restructured to include all factions, including Hamas, which is sworn to Israel's destruction.

Egypt drafted the proposal after a series of talks with 13 Palestinian factions and it will be discussed when the groups meet again in Cairo on November 9.

Previous Arab-led initiatives have failed to reconcile the bitter rivals and initial reactions by the groups cast doubt on whether any deal can be reached.

The Egyptian proposal calls for the immediate formation of a Palestinian unity government and an agreement on when to hold national elections.

A previous unity government collapsed after Hamas routed Fatah forces to take control of the Gaza Strip in 2007. Abbas sacked the Hamas-led government and appointed a Western-backed administration in the occupied West Bank where Fatah holds sway.

The groups also disagree on when to hold new elections with Fatah calling for both presidential and parliamentary elections to be held in 2010 and Hamas saying Abbas's term ends in January 2009. Cairo's proposal calls for simultaneous elections.

Egypt said that Hamas and Fatah security forces, which have frequently fought each other, should be removed from factional politics and be operated at a national level.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said Hamas would accept the proposal "after some amendments are made and some clarifications are given" without giving any details.

Fatah officials said they accept the Egyptian proposal but ask for the two additions. They said any transitional government should be committed to past PLO agreements, a demand routinely rejected by Hamas, and that Abbas and the PLO remain solely responsible for holding peace talks with Israel.

Egypt drafts Palestinian unity paper